Our Road to Hana Itinerary: What We'd Do Again (and What We'd Do Differently)
By Krystal | Windows of Travel
The Road to Hana is one of Maui's most iconic experiences, and one of the most debated.
Some travelers recommend spreading it over multiple days, while others say to skip it altogether. We decided to tackle it in a single day from Kihei, and despite spending nearly twelve hours on the road, it ended up being one of the highlights of our Hawaii vacation.
This itinerary focuses on some of our favorite stops along the route, including waterfalls, black sand beaches, rainbow eucalyptus trees, banana bread, and one of the best hikes in Hawaii.
If you're wondering whether the Road to Hana is worth it, our answer is an easy yes.
Our Road to Hana Itinerary
📍 Starting Point: Kihei
🕣 Our Departure: 8:30 AM
🕗 Return: Approximately 8:00 PM
Total Time: About 12 hours
Looking back, 8:30 AM was too late to start the Road to Hana. While we were able to fit in everything on our itinerary, it meant driving a significant portion of the return trip after dark.
The Road to Hana is already a winding, narrow drive with countless curves and one-lane bridges. Driving those roads in the dark, when you can't always see where the road is leading, added an extra level of stress that we'd rather avoid on a future visit.
If we were planning this day again, we'd leave between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. The earlier start would provide more flexibility throughout the day and make it much easier to complete the drive before sunset.
Main Stops:
- Keʻanae Arboretum
- Aunty Sandy's Banana Bread
- Upper Waikani Falls
- Hamoa Beach
- Wailua Falls
- Seven Sacred Pools
- Pipiwai Trail
- Waimoku Falls
Stop 1: Keʻanae Arboretum
Arrival: 9:15 AM
⏱️ Time: 30 Minutes
Our first stop was one we'd specifically planned because I wanted to see Maui's famous Rainbow Eucalyptus trees.
The short rainforest walk was peaceful, uncrowded, and a perfect way to begin the day.
The colorful tree trunks almost don't look real until you're standing next to them.
Even beyond the eucalyptus trees, the entire arboretum was lush, green, and beautiful.
Stop 2: Aunty Sandy's Banana Bread & Keʻanae Peninsula
Arrival: 9:50 AM
⏱️ Time: 40 Minutes
If you've researched the Road to Hana at all, you've almost certainly heard about Aunty Sandy's Banana Bread.
Believe the hype.
Fresh, warm, and absolutely delicious.
If I could offer one piece of advice...
Buy extra.
You'll thank yourself later.
After grabbing banana bread, we spent a little time exploring the Keʻanae Peninsula and enjoying the dramatic lava-rock coastline before continuing our drive.
Stop 3: Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears)
Arrival: 11:00 AM
⏱️ Time: 10 Minutes
This is one of the easiest waterfall stops along the Road to Hana.
Located just off the roadway, Upper Waikani Falls is a quick stop that offers beautiful views without requiring a hike.
Because there are so many places to stop throughout the day, we found these shorter photo opportunities helped keep our schedule moving while still allowing us to experience some of Maui's famous waterfalls.
Stop 4: Koki Beach (Our Unexpected Beach Stop)
Arrival: 1:30 PM
⏱️ Time: 45 Minutes
Here's a funny story...
Our itinerary actually called for Hamoa Beach, but somehow we accidentally stopped at Koki Beach instead.
We didn't realize our mistake until we were driving past Hamoa later in the drive!
Fortunately, it worked out just fine.
Koki Beach was beautiful, offering dramatic lava rock formations, crashing waves, and gorgeous coastal scenery. It ended up being a wonderful place to relax before continuing our drive.
By the time we realized we'd missed Hamoa Beach, we decided to stay on schedule rather than turn around.
Looking back, we're perfectly happy with how it worked out—but next time, we'll make it to Hamoa!
Stop 5: Wailua Falls
Arrival: 2:25 PM
⏱️ Time: 15 Minutes
Another quick roadside stop—but definitely worth it.
Wailua Falls is one of the most photogenic waterfalls on Maui and requires very little effort to enjoy.
Sometimes the simplest stops end up producing some of the best photographs of the day.
Stop 6: Seven Sacred Pools & Pipiwai Trail
Arrival: 2:50 PM
⏱️ Time: About 3 Hours
This was the reason we planned the Road to Hana in the first place.
The Seven Sacred Pools are beautiful, but for us, they were really just the beginning.
The Pipiwai Trail quickly became our favorite hike in Hawaii.
Walking through the towering bamboo forest felt almost surreal, and hearing the bamboo sway and knock together in the wind created an atmosphere unlike any other trail we've hiked.
Along the way, you'll also pass a massive banyan tree before eventually reaching the reward at the end...
Waimoku Falls.
Towering nearly 400 feet above the trail, Waimoku Falls is an incredible sight and made every step of the hike worthwhile.
If you only have time for one longer hike during your Road to Hana adventure, this would be our recommendation.
The Drive Back
After finishing the hike, we began the drive back toward Kihei around 6:00 PM.
By this point, we were definitely tired, but also incredibly happy with everything we'd experienced throughout the day.
Yes... It's a long day, but worth it.
Our Favorite Stops
🥾 Favorite Experience
Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls
🍌 Favorite Snack
Aunty Sandy's Banana Bread
🌳 Most Unique Stop
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
📸 Best Photo Stop
Wailua Falls
Windows of Travel Tips
- Leave earlier than we did. We started at 8:30 AM, and while we completed everything on our itinerary, we had to drive much of the Road to Hana after dark. We'd recommend leaving between 6:30 and 7:00 AM to give yourself more flexibility and daylight.
- Write your itinerary down with mile markers. Cell service was extremely limited for much of the drive, and there were long stretches where GPS simply wasn't available. Having a printed itinerary (or screenshots saved on your phone) made it much easier to know when the next stop was coming.
- Download offline maps before leaving Kihei—but don't rely on them alone.
- Pack plenty of water, snacks, and comfortable hiking shoes.
- Bring a lightweight rain jacket. The weather changes quickly throughout the day.
- Fill up your gas tank before starting the drive.
- Buy more banana bread than you think you'll want. Trust us 😁
Was the Road to Hana Worth It?
Absolutely.
Between the waterfalls, lush rainforest, dramatic coastline, beautiful beaches, and unforgettable Pipiwai Trail, the Road to Hana became one of the highlights of our Maui vacation.
It makes for a long day, but if you're willing to spend the time on the road, you'll experience some of the most beautiful scenery Hawaii has to offer.
Continue Planning Your Hawaii Trip
🏝️ Read our Complete Hawaii Trip Report
🏡 Read our Maui Vacation Rental Review
🤿 Read our Molokini & Turtle Town Snorkeling Review
🌺 Read our Te Au Moana Luau Review
🍽️ Read Where We Ate in Hawaii: Honest Reviews of Every Restaurant We Tried
🎥 Watch our Maui YouTube Vlog (Videos coming soon!)